This short film looks at some of the most distinguished politicians to have addressed the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, since the organisation was founded in 1949. They include Paul-Henri Spaak, Sandro Pertini, King Juan Carlos I, Pope John Paul II, Mikhail Gorbachev, Vaclav Havel, Francois Mitterand and Helmut Kohl.

The opening for signature of the European Social Charter in Turin on October 18 1961, was filmed by the Italian broadcaster RAI. The images were recently made available to the Council of Europe by kind permission of RAI, for use on its Internet site.

This illustrated radio report explains the history of the European Social Charter and the continuing challenges it faces in addressing problems concerning social rights in Europe.